The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure is emerging as a major new driver of global lithium demand, adding fresh pressure to already constrained supplies of the battery metal, according to a report by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)
In its latest commodity bulletin, the Cairo-based trade finance institution said the surge in AI-driven data centers and energy storage systems is reshaping long-term demand dynamics for lithium beyond its traditional role in electric vehicles.
The report said stationary energy storage systems, increasingly required to support large-scale data centers and renewable energy integration, are becoming a critical growth segment for lithium consumption.
The report noted that demand from EVs (Electric Vehicles) and ESS (Energy Storage Systems) remains robust, driven by supportive government policies and the increasing use of battery storage systems in data centres linked to artificial intelligence applications.
The warning shows how the global AI boom is beginning to spill into commodity markets as technology companies race to build power-intensive computing infrastructure capable of supporting advanced AI models and cloud services.
AI data centers require vast amounts of electricity and backup energy systems to ensure uninterrupted operations, driving increased investment in large-scale battery storage technologies that rely heavily on lithium.
The report said lithium remained the world’s top-performing commodity this year despite recent price corrections triggered by temporary supply recoveries.
Afreximbank said the longer-term market outlook remained bullish because supply growth continues to lag structural demand from electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and now AI-linked infrastructure.
The bank also pointed to years of underinvestment in new mining projects during the lithium market downturn between 2022 and 2025, alongside challenges including declining ore grades, water shortages, energy costs and permitting delays.
The growing role of AI infrastructure in commodity demand could create new opportunities for African producers as governments across the continent seek to expand their participation in the global battery supply chain.
Afreximbank projects Africa could account for as much as 15% of global lithium production within five years, up from about 4% in 2023, as countries including Zimbabwe, Namibia and Democratic Republic of Congo ramp up production and processing ambitions.
The report said geopolitical tensions and growing resource nationalism were also tightening supply availability as countries impose export restrictions and manufacturers build strategic reserves of critical minerals.
The emergence of AI as a commodity demand driver marks a broader shift in how digital infrastructure is influencing global resource markets, linking the expansion of cloud computing and machine learning directly to mining investment and energy supply chains.
